Anyone have $4million to spare? The politics of this 201 petition are circular. Let’s recap. SQN Capital is the bankruptcy lender. In further reading the first motions by Suniva’s CRO, SQN is offering $4million through the bankruptcy. The loan is at 12% per year plus some fees and has the first lien security. I find the interest rate rather cheap given the circumstance which raises a red flag but let’s ignore for now. We need some allies in defeating the petition. First off, the Chinese modules makers should buy the debt from SQN right now on the condition of withdrawing the 201 petition. The cheapest $4million market entry price ever. Second, the utilities across America are going to have a problem. A $0.78/watt minimum price is going to significantly reduce the amount of solar they can ratebase. EEI must be hearing from its members on this topic, what will they do?
Defining Climate Change. I didn’t read the NY Times oped on climate change. The headline was annoying and I don’t feel like losing time reading a skeptics dissertation. That being said, we need to stop talking climate change. It doesn’t poll well, it’s partisan and too complicated to argue with skeptics. How do you convince someone gravity exists if they don’t believe it? We need to change the conversation. Clean water, clean air and solar energy. We all like that, we all want that. You can live in deep red States and your neighbors will be pro-solar and want to breath clean air. March for Science and Climate Change was great, for our echo-chamber but it leaves many outside of the bubble wondering what the agenda is. Preach solar. That’s our coalition.
Are you offering storage for your solar projects in California? I want to hear from you. In the near future, I will be doing a learning tour and meeting with contractors and developers throughout California working in and around energy storage.
A budget deal. House negotiators have come to an agreement to keep the Government running through the fiscal year. Let’s just say that Trump isn’t getting his wish in gutting the EPA and DOE budgets for this year. This doesn’t mean that good things will come of the money, likely many programs will stall because of lack of staffing and effort. You can see more in coverage on the issue.
Make sure you listen to the latest episodes of EnergyWakeup. Hear from solar entrepreneur, John Gurski, the founder of Energy Toolbase, a cloud based energy bill analytics and proposal tool. I also speak with Tony Clifford from Standard Solar about being acquired by Gaz Metro and his work at SEIA.
- Washington Post: Dominion plans to add more solar to its energy mix
- Vox: The New York Times should not have hired climate change bullshitter Bret Stephens
- Think Progress: Climate, environmental programs left mostly untouched in budget deal
- Michigan Biz: After year of uncertainty, Michigan solar companies now share optimistic outlook
- Renew Economy: Solar PV could provide 30% of power needs by 2030, ARENA says
- PV-Magazine: Spruce still hemorrhaging staff
- Midwest Energy News: Iowa solar installers rush to get ahead of possible net metering changes
- Portland Press Herald: Group appeals Maine decision to scale back residential solar incentives
Opinion
Have a great day!
Yann